Mills says Affinion and its subsidiaries used deceptive practices to get unwitting consumers to sign up for services such as credit monitoring, roadside assistance and discounted travel.

Maine has joined a $30 million nationwide settlement against a Connecticut-based company that Attorney General Janet Mills says misled unwitting consumers into signing up for discount clubs and memberships.

Mills says Affinion and its subsidiaries, Trilegiant and Webloyalty, offered services such as credit monitoring, roadside assistance and discounted travel.

Mills says several consumers have complained that they were being charged for the services without their knowledge or consent, and had trouble canceling or getting refunds.

One of the schemes the company used involved mailing consumers checks that, when endorsed and deposited, allowed Affinion to enroll them in "membership programs" for which they were charged monthly.

Under the settlement terms, Affinion is establishing a $19 million fund to provide refunds to consumers who did not authorize the monthly charges. Another $13.5 million from the settlement is being set aside for states for consumer protection efforts.